Molecular Cardiovascular Research

Head of the Group

Secretariat

Receptor-mediated endocytosis is the main mechanism whereby cells take up essential metabolites and signaling molecules. Consequently, dysfunctions of endocytic receptors are the cause of many devastating diseases in humans.

Our group focuses on the functional characterization of endocytic receptors specifically expressed in neurons, elucidating the significance of these receptor pathways for embryonic development, for functional integrity, and for degenerative diseases of the central nervous system.

Mainly using transgenic cell and mouse models, we currently study the involvement of endocytic receptor pathways in two main projects. In the first project, we characterize the role of endocytic receptors in developmental defects of the forebrain, an anomaly affecting as many as 1 in 250 human pregnancies. In the second major project, we explore endocytic pathways in neurons that are the underlying cause Alzheimer’s disease, a neurodegenerative disease that impacts millions of patients worldwide.

More detailed information about these projects can be found under “Research”